towards rear, headway to chase leading pair 5 out, ridden 2 out, led bend before last, ran on
hampered 1st, tracked leaders, close up 6th, headway to join leader 11th, ridden and led briefly bend approaching last, hit last and nearly unseated rider, kept on
in touch, tracked leaders 6th, led 10th, soon joined, ridden 2 out, headed bend before last, soon weakened
jumped right, keen pressed leader, led when jumped badly right and fell 10th
badly hampered 1st, in touch, pushed along 11th, weakened 4 out
jumped right, keen led, soon clear with one other, reduced lead 8th, headed 10th, tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
in rear, outpaced 5th, ridden 4 out, headway approaching last, never a factor
Maliboo only won once over hurdles but placed here in October. Bolt N Brown could also feature, despite a career strike-rate of 1-33. Animal has run a couple of decent races over fences at Lingfield but the experience of JONY MAX can see him home. He has been racing over further but was second over 2m4f at Warwick in September so shouldn’t be inconvenienced by a drop in distance.
Animal (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to be prominent before 5 out, pressed leader 3 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, jumped left last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Seven No Trumps (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Jony Max (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th and 4 out nearly unseated rider, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Uno Mas (11-2) at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Maliboo (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, never in contention, 12th of 15, dist behind Martha Brae (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Bolt N Brown 7-2 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, no impression after 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 20l behind Grand Enterprise (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Ocean Voyage (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden and weakening when blundered last, 6th of 10, 34l behind Light Flicker (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Scottsdale 66-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, led 8th where awkward, hit 10th, headed 13th, driven after 14th, weakened quickly after 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Realms Of Fire 14-1 (10-1) Jumped right at times, held up in touch, midfield 4th, towards rear 8th, not fluent 10th and 11th, hit 12th, well adrift and reminder 14th, plugged on from 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Mozzaro (11-2) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
